Final answer:
Leveling refers to the process of creating increasingly detailed data flow diagrams (DFDs) that describe an information system while maintaining the consistency of data flows between parent and child diagrams.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the multiple-choice question on leveling in the context of data flow diagrams (DFDs) is d. uses a series of increasingly detailed data flow diagrams (DFDs) to describe an information system. This process of leveling involves breaking down a high-level overview DFD (also known as the parent DFD) into more granular, lower-level diagrams (called child DFDs), which illustrate more specific or detailed processes. Each lower-level DFD should maintain the input and output data flows of its immediate parent, ensuring a consistent and accurate representation of the system's data processing. The purpose of leveling is to help understand complex systems by presenting them in smaller, more manageable pieces without losing the integrity of the overall data flow.
It is important to distinguish leveling from unrelated terms like the budget for product development, drawings used to design a product, and the rate of the flow of water through a hose. These do not relate to the process of creating DFDs.